Yes, directory submission still effective but you should choose high DA & PA sites per better ranking, you should choose a proper category. never submit to spammy directories it will down your site's rank. ... As of late, Directory Submissions have gone up against low need, when contrasted with other SEO procedures.

If you are talking about the low quality directories then the answer is not.

But there are some directories which are paid and they are reputable companies. So, instead of getting thousands of spammy directory backlinks you should focus on a few but high quality paid directories for best results in local SEO.